Ridge tile

ABSTRACT

At its small end, which is to be covered by the adjacent ridge tile, only parts of the peripheral surface of the ridge tile are dimensioned to match the engaging inside surface of its other end whereas other parts of the outside peripheral surface of the small end are recessed from the inside surface of the other end.

United States Patent n51 3,694,982

Gerhaher Oct. 3, 1972 [54] RIDGE TILE 2,624,298 1/1953 Farren ..52/533 Inventor: NIax Gerhaher Stadtgraben 2 Brewmgton i slraubmg, Germany FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS 1 Filed= P 1970 14,422 0/1928 Australia ..52/277 [211 App]. 74 294 464,397 8/1928 Germany ..52/277 609,679 9/ 1960 Italy ..52/57 Foreign Application Priority Data Primary Examiner-Price c. Faw, Jr.

Sept. 30, 1969 Germany ..P I9 49 35.1 Attorney-F19", PP & Jambson N .6, 1969 G ..P 19 55 924.1

many 57 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 52/57, At mall end which is t0 be covered by the ad- [5 1] Int. Cl. ..E04d 1/30 jagem ridge tile, only parts of the peripheral surface of Field Search-M52533, 57, 518, the ridge tile are dimensioned to match the engaging inside surface of its other end whereas other parts of 10 the outside peripheral surface of the small end are recessed from the inside surface of the other end. [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l2 Clains, 13 Drawing Figures Dimick ..61/11 PATENTED B m2 3,694,982

SHEET 1 OF 5 g. 1 PRIOR ART I INVENTORZ Max Gerhaher PATENTEDwa 1912 v 3,694,982

SHEET 2 [1F 5 RIDGE TILE The roof covering consisting generally of roofing tiles has three main functions. It serves to protect the building from rain, snow, drifting snow, ice and sunrays and for this purpose must be sufficiently watertight. It must permit of an escape of moisture from the interior of the building, where such moisture may be produced by cooking and laundering operations, moisture in the walls and floors of new buildings, industrial operations and respiration. The roof covering should also help to protect the building against excessive heating and cooling.

Pitched roofs are generally designed as cold roofs or as cold roofs having an understructure (two-shell cold roofs). The cold roof is a ventilated roof; i.e., the room under the roof covering is supplied with air and vented. This design prevents thermal stresses in the roof truss and in the uppermost ceiling structure. Besides, the air flowing in contact with the underside of the roof covering in the direction from the eaves to the ridge carries moisture along and removes it so that a condensation on the underside of the roof covering is prevented even when it would otherwise be enabled in view pf the outdoor temperatures. As a result, a formation of drops and ice on the underside of the roof covering, a rotting or corrosion of the roof truss and a soaking of the insulation of the ceiling of the top floor of the building with moisture due to a falling of drops or ice will be prevented. Snow tends to remain on the air-permeable roofs because the cold outdoor air flows in contact with the underside of the roof covering. This results in a uniform thawing of the snow cover without a retention of melted snow on the protruding part of the roof above the eaves so that damage to the building is avoided.

Near the eaves, air may be permitted to enter through air-permeable roofing tiles or through openings formed between the rafters and between the backing laths of two-shell cold roofs. As the air is heated and takes up moisture, it becomes lighter and rises as in a chimney in contact with the sloping surface of the roof. A sufficient supply and escape of air will depend on these effects. Means permitting of an escape of air are disposed near the ridge and have previously consisted usually of venting tiles.

Whereas a supply of air can be enabled without a substantial increase in costs by the provision of horizontal slots between the rafters or between the backing laths of cold roofs having an understructure, the above-mentioned venting tiles have always been required for venting. These venting tiles are much more expensive than conventional roofing tiles and the tiler must take care to place such venting tiles with the close spacing which is required. In many roofs, there are no venting tiles at all adjacent to the ridge. Because mortar joints are provided between the ridge tiles and between the ridge tiles and the adjacent ridge course tiles to hold the ridge tiles in position, the roof is tight also at the ridge and is thus inadequately vented.

According to the invention, this disadvantage is avoided in that a ridge tile is proposed which consists of a venting tile whereas its use does not involve costs in addition to those incurred in the use of the conventional ridge tiles. The use of the ridge tiles according to the invention results in a reliable venting of the topmost region of the roof next to the ridge. The ridge tile according to the invention is characterized in that at its small end, which is to be covered by the adjacent roof tile, only parts of its outside peripheral surface are dimensioned to match the engaging inside surface of its other end whereas other parts of the outside peripheral surface of the small end are recessed from the inside surface of the other end. Mortar joints are provided at the ridge tile according to the invention only where the end of the adjacent ridge tile is supported by the engaging parts of the outside peripheral surface of the small end. No mortar joints are provided in the areas in which the small end is recessed from the inside peripheral surface of the overlying end.

The ridge tile according to the invention can be manufactured exactly at the same cost as conventional ridge tiles and its use results automatically and necessarily in a venting of the roof at its top. As an air passage is provided at each lap joint between two ridge tiles and these air passages may be relatively large because an engagement in two small areas is sufficient for a reliable support of the overlying ridge tile, the roof is vented without need for a relatively large number of the expensive conventional venting tiles previously required to vent the roof. Because the ridge tiles can be placed in such a manner that their openings are exposed in the main direction of wind, they afford a very good protection against an ingress of drifting snow. When the wind blows at an angle and generally opposite to the main direction, the air flow will rise along the surface of the roof and will break away at the ridge, where turbulence is created so that a protection against an ingress of drifting snow will also be afforded. When the wind blows exactly opposite to the main direction, the vent opening will be sheltered by the preceding venting tile and will thus be protected from drifting snow. Where the ridge tiles according to the invention are used as hip tiles, they are placed so that their opening faces the eaves. In that case they serve for a supply of air in the lower part of the hip and for venting in the upper part.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the ridge tile according to the invention, the ridge tile is generally cylindrical or conical and has a small end which is flattened at its top. The air passage is constituted by an opening in the shape of a circular segment, which is defined between the flattened top of the small end of the ridge tile and the overlying surface of the adjacent ridge tile, which overlying surface has the shape of an arc of a circle in cross-section.

It will be particularly desirable if the small end is provided near its end face with an outwardly protruding bead, which extends throughout the outside peripheral surface. Such bead will prevent rainwater flowing on the ridge tile to its small end from entering the vent opening. in another desirable embodiment of the invention, that end of the tile which overlies the adjacent ridge tile is provided at least in the area in which it engages the small end of the adjacent ridge tile with two inwardly protruding beads, the spacing of which is at least as large as the width of the bead on the outside of the small end. This design ensures that the tiles will be held in position. The beads may be arranged to prevent a careless placing of the ridge tiles in such a manner that the air passage is almost or entirely closed by the adjacent ridge tile. If the spacing of the two inwardly protruding beads exceeds the width of the outer bead on the small end, the overlap length may be varied so that a given number of ridge tiles may be used to cover ridges having different lengths.

According to another desirable feature, the position of the inwardly protruding rear bead on the overlying end of the ridge tile is so matched in length to the small end of the adjacent ridge tile that the vent opening can be completely covered by the upper portion of the adjacent ridge tile. In this case, the venting action may be eliminated where this is desired for special reasons and the ridge tiles according to the invention may be used in the conventional manner so that they do not vent the roof. In such arrangement, the overlying ridge tile is placed so that its rear inwardly protruding bead engages the outer bead of the small end of the overlying ridge tile at the edge portions. The gap which remains instead of the vent opening is closed with mortar.

It may also be desirable to provide that end which overlies the adjacent ridge tile with a screen insert to be disposed in the vent opening so that the protection against an ingress of drifting snow will be further increased where this is required.

A particularly desirable feature of the invention resides in that the ridge tile is generally cylindrical or conical and has a small end which slopes on both sides like a roof. These rooflike slopes provided by the invention are highly superior to a horizontal flat. The provision of the rooflike slopes results in two openings, which have a total cross-sectional area which is approximately as large as that of the opening defined by a horizontal flat. On the other hand, birds can not slip through the divided opening.

It has already been proposed to provide a ridge tile which is designed so that a venting gap remains between the underlying end of one ridge tile, which end is smaller in cross-section, and the overlying'end of the next ridge tile, which overlying end is larger in crosssection. The outside peripheral surface of the end which is smaller in cross-section is provided with a peripheral rib, which is spaced from the transition between the large and small cross-sections and prevents an ingress of water to the end. A venting gap is also left between the rib and the inside peripheral surface of the overlying ridge tile. The end which is smaller in cross-section extends beyond the rib and is formed in its cylindrical peripheral surface with radial vent openings extending to the inside of the end which is smaller in cross-section. The end face of the end which is smaller in cross-section is provided with a peripheral rib, which is similar in diameter to the above-mentioned rib. The two end faces are joined by mortar in the lower one-third of the annular gap on both sides only in the area between the two ribs and below the radial vent openings. Such venting ridge tile has significant disadvantages compared to the venting ridge tile according to the invention. Owing to the peripheral air gap, it is much narrower at the base of its underlying end. On the other end, the inside width of the small end should be as large as possible to ensure that the ridge gap, which is relatively large in many roofs, is covered against an ingress of rainwater and melted snow.

Ridge tiles are generally joined with mortar at their base ledges to the two sides of the roof and the elevation of the ridge tile depends on the inside width of the small end because its base ledges virtually lie on the sides of the roof and are separated from these sides only by very thin mortar joints. The slope of the sides of the roof results necessarily in thicker mortar joints at the base ledges of the body of the ridge tile, where the spacing between the base ledges and between the base ledges and the sides of the roof is larger than at the small end.

In the known ridge tile, the peripheral venting gap requires that the underlying end portion is greatly reduced in thickness so that the mortar joints under the body of the ridge tile are very thick. High mortar joints tend to break out much more easily sothat the tile is no longer held in position to resist storm and is no longer sealed against the sides of the roof. These disadvantages become the more sever, the higher is the pitch of the sides of the roof. In the venting ridge tile according to the invention, the reduction in thickness and its attendant disadvantages is minimized and similar to that of conventional ridge tiles.

Owing to the peripheral venting gap, the known venting ridge tile has no points or surfaces where the outside surface of the underlying end is so matched in dimensions to the inside surfaces of the overlying end that the overlying ridge tile can be held in position in vertical and lateral directions. As has been explained above, the overlying end of the known venting ridge tile rests on a much thicker mortar joint so that said end will lower and compress the mortar which is still soft when the tile is placed. The lowered end closes the venting gap almost completely in its top portion whereas the gap is closed anyway by the mortar in the two side portions. To prevent a lowering of the overlying end, the venting gap is often completely filled with mortar 'so that the object of the present invention is not accomplished either.

The two supporting parts of the small end of the venting ridge tile according to the invention hold the overlying end in position so that the venting cross-section is reliably held open.

Whereas the above-mentioned disadvantages of the known venting ridge tile could be generally eliminated by the use of a matching ridge course tile, this would eliminate the main advantage of the venting ridge tile, namely the elimination of the need for special venting tiles. On the contrary, the number of ridge course tiles which are required and are approximately as expensive as the special venting tiles is much higher than that of the venting tiles which are eliminated.

Because the venting ridge tile according to the invention is free of the above-mentioned disadvantages, it can readily be placed without a special ridge course tile, regardless of the type of roofing tile and the pitch of the roof.

Besides, the known tile has no means which hold the tiles in position in the longitudinal direction. The tiles may be unintendedly pushed together as they are placed so that the venting gap between the end face of the overlying end and the shoulder surface between the body of the ridge tile and the small end thereof may be partly or entirely closed. Alternatively, the tiles may be unintendedly pulled apart as they are placed so that the first rib of the underlying end may register with an inner rib on the end face of the overlying end and the vent opening is almost completely closed.

Because the venting ridge tile according to the invention is held in position in the longitudinal direction, the venting cross-section will be reliably kept open.

The known embodiment of the ridge tile cannot be made on the conventional tile presses because the above-described vent openings involve undercuts. These openings can be formed only by manual work using suitable jigs or with complicated presses and molds. Because the tiles are required in relatively small numbers, even a non-manual manufacture using expensive presses and molds is not economical.

The venting ridge tile according to the invention has no undercuts and may be made on conventional presses just as economically as a conventional ridge tile.

The known venting ridge tile has a gaplike opening, which presents a much higher resistance to flow than a more compact cross-section of the same area.

Besides, if it is assumed that ridge tiles of the known type and according to the invention are to be compared which have bodies equal in size, the gaplike venting opening, which is filled with mortar on both sides approximately in the lower one-third, is much smaller in cross-sectional area than the opening which is defined by the venting ridge tile according to the invention and which has the shape of a segment of a circle in crosssection and in which also only the lower one-third, approximately, is not utilized for venting because there are mating lateral surfaces.

The flat of the venting ridge tile according to the invention has the further advantage that a U-shaped screen insert having straight flanges may be used so that the protection against drifting snow will be further increased. The manufacture of a screen insert having curved flanges for the known ridge tile is much more expensive.

The generally triangular shape of the small end of the generally cylindrical or conical ridge tile results in the further advantage that the overlying ridge tile is held in position not only laterally but also vertically. Additional advantages reside in that the water is removed better from the rooflike sloping surfaces and water which is retained by ice can drain off. Airborne snow can close only the opening on the lee side whereas the other opening facing the wind remains exposed. Finally, the ridge tile according to the invention results in a more pleasant appearance because the ridge line is not so strongly serrated in a side view. The ridge tiles are vertically positioned even more exactly than the last-mentioned known ridge tile.

In a development of the invention, the two rooflike slopes on both sides of the ridge tile may be straight or curved. Besides, a bead may be provided adjacent to the end face of the underlying end of the ridge tile and may be higher in the lower portion than elsewhere. By this design, the protection afi'orded by the ridge tile against an ingress of retained water is much increased whereas the air flow cross-section is not appreciably increased. To define the degree of overlap of the ridge tiles, it is suitable to provide double beads on the inside surface of the overlying tile at the center and on both sides. The resulting grooves can receive the beads on the rooflike sloping end of the ridge tile so that the adjacent tiles are held in position.

In another, particularly desirable embodiment of the invention, the rooflike slopes of the small end of the ridge tile become progressively flatter towards the end face and terminate in a horizontal flat. Where a ridge tile is used which has such a small end, the two openings existing at the beginning of the overlap area merge into a single opening which has the shape of a segment of a circle and a horizontal base and the free cross-section in the overlap area is approximately constant. To increase the safety against an ingress of water, it will be desirable to provide the ridge tile having a horizontal flat with a peripheral bead on its end face. This embodiment of the invention affords an even higher safety against an ingress of retained water because the horizontally flat and the bead to be overflown by the water are on a much higher level than the lowermost portions of the two air passages where the water can drain unless it is retained by thawing and freezing snow.

The invention will be explained more fully hereinafter with reference to the drawing, which shows first the ridge tiles known in the art and then by way of example three embodiments of the ridge tiles according to the invention.

In the drawing,-

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the overlap area of two conventional ridge tiles,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line IIII of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 1 and showing the overlap area of two ridge tiles according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line IVIV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the overlap area of two ridge tiles according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6a is a sectional view taken on VI abVI ab in FIG. 5,

FIG. 6b shows the same sectional view as is shown in FIG. 6, however in a slightly changed execution.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the overlap area of two ridge tiles according to a third embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 8a and 8b show two sectional views taken on lines VIIIaVIIIa and VIIIb-VIIIb, respectively, in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on line IXIX in FIG. 8b and FIGS. 10a and 10b show two sectional views taken on lines Xa-Xa and Xb-Xb, respectively, in FIG. 7.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the overlying end 3 of the ridge tile 1 is provided with an inner bead 2, which lies directly on the small end 4 of the ridge tile 5. The outer bead 6 of the ridge tile 5 engages the inner bead of the ridge tile 1 from behind so that the ridge tiles are held in position. The joint is filled with mortar 15. It is apparent from the drawing that these con entional ridge tiles do not provide for a passage of air.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the overlap area of two ridge tiles according to the invention. The overlying end 8 of the ridge tile 7 has in this embodiment two inner beads 9 and 10. As is particularly apparent from FIG. 4, the small end 11 of the ridge tile 12 is flattened so that an air passage 13 in the form of a segment of a circle is defined between its top and the cylindrical inside surface of the overlying end 8 of the ridge tile 7. This air passage results in the advantages described hereinbefore. The small end of the ridge tile is provided with an outer bead 14, which adjacent to the edges extends between the inner beads 9 and 10 of the overlying end 8 of the adjacent ridge tile 7 so that adjacent tiles are held in position. Adjacent to the flat, the outer bead l4 prevents an ingress of rainwater into the roof.

When it is required for a protection against an ingress of drifting snow under particularly extreme climatic conditions, a screen insert may be inserted into the opening 13 so that an ingress of drifting snow will be most reliably prevented. In general, however, it will be sufficient to place the ridge tiles according to the invention so that the passage 13 is exposed in the main direction of wind.

In the second embodiment of the ridge tile according to the invention (FIGS. 5 and 6a) the overlying end 16 of the ridge tile is provided on its inside in the area which engages the small end of the adjacent ridge tile with two juxtaposed beads 17 and 18. As is best apparent from FIG. 6a, the small end 19 of the ridge tile 20 is sloped like a roof so that two air passages 21 are formed between the slopes 25 and 26 and the ridge tile 15 having an arcuate portion which covers these slopes. These passages are defined by straight lines and arcs. The rooflike slopes may be curved (25) (FIG. 6b) or straight (26) (FIG. 6a). The bead 17 of the rooflike sloping end of the ridge tile 20 extends into the grooves defined by the beads 17 and 18 of the overlying ridge tile 15 so that the latter is supported at its top and on both sides and is held in position. The bead 22 is higher at its lower end 23 than elsewhere to increase the protection against an ingress of water.

A ridge tile according to the invention having a small end which is first sloped like a roof and terminates in a horizontal flat at its end face is shown in FIGS. 7 to 10. The overlying end 28 of the ridge tile 27 is provided on its inside on both sides with a head 29, which behind the bead .35 extends into the grooves 30 formed on both sides in the small end 31 of the underlying ridge tile 32 so that the ridge tiles are held in position in the longitudinal direction.

The small end 31 has a flat horizontal top adjacent to its end face 33 and defines with the end 28 of the overlying ridge tile an air passage 34 in the shape of a segment of a circle. This passage is apparent from 8b hand. The sections represented in FIG. 8a, 8b and 10a, 10b show how the horizontally flattened portion of the small end gradually merges into rooflike slopes. The arched opening 36 is apparent from FIG. 8a, FIG. 10b a shows adjacent to the section line Xb-Xb the rooflike slopes 37, which together with the end 28 of the overlying ridge tile define on both sides respective arcuately bounded openings 38. It is apparent from FIG. 10a, 10b that the rooflike slopes 37 gradually merge adjacent to the section line XaXa into the cylindrical cross-section 39 of the ridge tile 32. Adjacent to the section line VIIIb-Vlllb (FIG. 8b), the end 28 of the overlying ridge tile is supported on both sides at the surfaces 30 and adjacent to the section Xb-Xb, FIG. 10b at the surface 41 by the small end 31 of the ridge tile 32. The top edge 42 of the bead is on a much higher level than the lowermost portions 43 of the openings 38, where the water can drain.

What is claimed is:

1. Novel ridge tile to be used for venting roofs comprising a member having a small end and a large end, a

series of said ridge tiles adapted to be connected together end-to-end with the small end of one tile fitted into and fixed by mortar with the large end of the next adjacent tile such that the large end of the next adjacent tile overlies the small end of said'one tile to form a lap joint, the peripheral surface of the small end of said tile and the inside surface of the large end of said tile being dimensioned such that in the formation of the lap joint, portions of the peripheral surface of the small end of the one tile engage and are complementary with corresponding portions of the inside surface of the large end of the next adjacent tile with mortar therebetween fixing said portions together and other portions of the peripheral surface of the small end of the one tile are recessed and spaced from other corresponding portions of the inside surface of the large end of the next adjacent tile without mortar therebetween to define between said other portions an opening through the lap joint whereby the interior of the next adjacent tile and the atmosphere are intercommunicated via said opening in the lap joint to provide ventilation.

2. A ridge tile according to claim 1, is generally formed cylindrical or conical and having the small end flattened at its top.

3. A ridge tile according to claim 1, wherein the small end is provided near its end face with an outwardly protruding bead, which extends throughout the outside peripheral surface. 1

4. A ridge tile according to claim 3, wherein the large end of said tile which overlies the adjacent ridge tile is provided at least in the area in which it engages the small end of the adjacent ridge tile with two inwardly protruding heads, the spacing of which is at least as large as the width of the outer bead of the small end.

5. A ridge tile according to claim 1, wherein the ridge tile is generally cylindrical or conical and has a small end which is sloped on both sides' like a roof.

6. A ridge tile according to claim 5, wherein the slopes are straight in cross-section.

7. A ridge tile according to claim 5, wherein the slopes are curved in cross-section.

8. A ridge tile according to claim 5, wherein the tile is provided adjacent to the end face of its small end with a bead, which is higher in the lower portion than elsewhere.

9. A ridge tile according to claim 8, wherein double beads are provided on the inside surface of the larger end of the tile at the center and on both sides.

10. A ridge tile according to claim 5, wherein the pitch of the rooflike slopes of the small end of the ridge tile decreases progressively towards the end face and these slopes terminate in a horizontal flat.

11. A ridge tile according to claim 10, wherein the end face of the horizontally flattened end of the ridge tile is provided with a bead.

12. A ridge tile according to claim 11 wherein the large end of the ridge tile is provided on the inside on both sides with beads, and grooves are defined on both sides of the ridge tiles small end so that in the lap joint the beads of the large end of one tile are received in the grooves of the adjacent tiles small end thus connecting said tiles together by means of said beads and grooves. 

1. Novel ridge tile to be used for venting roofs comprising a member having a small end and a large end, a series of said ridge tiles adapted to be connected together end-to-end with the small end of one tile fitted into and fixed by mortar with the large end of the next adjacent tile such that the large end of the next adjacent tile overlies the small end of said one tile to form a lap joint, the peripheral surface of the small end of said tile and the inside surface of the large end of said tile being dimensioned such that in the formation of the lap joint, portions of the peripheral surface of the small end of the one tile engage and are complementary with corresponding portions of the inside surface of the large end of the next adjacent tile with mortar therebetween fixing said portions together and other portions of the peripheral surface of the small end of the one tile are recessed and spaced from other corresponding portions of the inside surface of the large end of the next adjacent tile without mortar therebetween to define between said other portions an opening through the lap joint whereby the interior of the next adjacent tile and the atmosphere are intercommunicated via said opening in the lap joint to provide ventilation.
 2. A ridge tile according to claim 1, is generally formed cylindrical or conical and having the small end flattened at its top.
 3. A ridge tile according to claim 1, wherein the small end is provided near its end face with an outwardly protruding bead, which extends throughout the outside peripheral surface.
 4. A ridge tile according to claim 3, wherein the large end of said tile which overlies the adjacent ridge tile is provided at least in the area in which it engages the small end of the adjacent ridge tile with two inwardly protruding beads, the spacing of which is at least as large as the width of the outer bead of the small end.
 5. A ridge tile according to claim 1, wherein the ridge tile is generally cylindrical or conical and has a small end which is sloped on both sides like a roof.
 6. A ridge tile according to claim 5, wherein the slopes are straight in cross-section.
 7. A ridge tile according to claim 5, wherein the slopes are curved in cross-section.
 8. A ridge tile according to claim 5, wherein the tile is provided adjacent to the end face of its small end with a bead, which is higher in the lower portion than elsewhere.
 9. A ridge tile according to claim 8, wherein double beads are provided on the inside surface of the larger end of the tile at the center and on both sides.
 10. A ridge tile according to claim 5, wherein the pitch of the rooflike slopes of the small end of the ridge tile decreases progressively towards the end face and these slopes terminate in a horizontal flat.
 11. A ridge tile according to claim 10, wherein the end face of the horizontally flattened end of the ridge tile is provided with a bead.
 12. A ridge tile according to claim 11 wherein the large end of the ridge tile is proVided on the inside on both sides with beads, and grooves are defined on both sides of the ridge tile''s small end so that in the lap joint the beads of the large end of one tile are received in the grooves of the adjacent tile''s small end thus connecting said tiles together by means of said beads and grooves. 